Swarup Mishra wins Jubilee ticket for Kesses MP

A Kenyan of Asian origin has defied all odds and won Kesses parliamentary contest and may become the first non-Kalenjin to be elected to parliament in Uasin Gishu County.

Dr Swarup Mishra, the owner of Mediheal Group of Hospitals garnered 23,314 votes against his closest challenger Isaac Terer, Uasin Gishu County Assembly Speaker, who got 5,681 votes.

The incumbent James Bett came in third with with 2,2381votes.

How did Dr Mishra manage to convince members of the Kalenjin community who are known for being conservative and mostly prefer their own to lead?

“My principle has always been to serve the common man. I also listen to their needs especially in my clinic which they have come to appreciate,” Mr Mishra told the Nation during an interview Tuesday.

But to win the hearts of the locals has not been a walk in the park for Dr Mishra with many people at first looking at him as a nonstarter.

He was at one point during the nominations sustained serious injuries after his supporters and those of his opponents clashed.

Dr Swarup who lives a noble life has become famous among the residents Kesses and Uasin Gishu County at large for his philanthropism.

Unlike his opponents, Dr Mishra set up a sophisticated campaign secretariat complete with staff and state of the art equipment. He also set up a parallel tallying centre where his team was monitoring results real time.

A MAN OF THE PEOPLE

Dr Mishra’s philanthropism where he has been generously contributing to community projects and waiving huge medicals bills for the locals might have also played to his advantage.

The outspoken obstetric gynaecologist who is also the owner of Mediheal Group of Hospitals has declared that he will direct his salary to residents’ needy fund.

“My salary will go to the constituency kit to help poor people in my constituency,” Dr Mishra told the Nation.

Kesses constituency residents have baptized him Kiprop arap Chelule so as to fit into the Kalenjin nation to praise him for being a generous man.

Joe Kirwa a resident of Kesses says that Dr Mishra has supported many development projects which have improved the livelihood of the locals.

“Dr Mishra has helped many poor residents in this area, we voted for him not as an Asian but someone who has interest of people at heart,” said Mr Kirwa

Dr Mishra who was born in Orissa, India in 1965 and is locally re referred to as ‘Kiprop’.

He has promised to donate a dairy cow in every house hold in Kesses as a token of appreciation if elected.

“I am going to donate a dairy cow for each house hold in the constituency should they elect me as their next member of parliament in the coming August general election,” said Dr Mishra.

Dr Mishra travelled from India to Kenya 18 years ago. Today, he is fully assimilated to Kenyan culture and in particular the Kalenjin culture.

“I am more Kalenjin than the Kalenjins. My name is Kiprop Arap Chelule. Kiprop means born during the rain while Chelule means from outside baptized into inside. My clan is Chepkendi Nandi,” said Mr Mishra in an interview with the Nation recently.

Dr Mishra and his wife came to Kenya to seek opportunities. His wife Palavi Mishra had just gotten a job as a gynecologist in Eldoret.

The couple started investing in the medical sector and they now have hospitals in Eldoret, Nakuru, Eldoret and Kigali Rwanda.

“We did not have any money when we came in Kenya. We had 500 dollars approximately Sh30, 000 by then. As we are talking now our total investment in terms of the number of hospitals and the services we offer it is around 100 million dollars which is around Sh10 billion,” he explained.

Away from the medical sector, he engages in politics which he terms a hobby.

“People say politics is bad but for me I think and believe that politics is not a bad game but a good profession. It can be a hobby. It can be like sports. It is like golf,” he said.

“I asked residents not see me on the basis of my colour and place of origin but what I can deliver to them in terms of development and leadership qualities,” said Dr Mishra.

Dr Mishra promised to ensure that every homestead has piped water, good road network and good learning environment in public schools among other projects.

Apart from Mr Bett and Dr Mishra, other aspirants who were in the race included:  Allan Kosgey, son to former cabinet minister Henry Kosgey, Former Eldoret South MP Mr David Koros and Uasin Gishu County speaker Isaac Terer.

Pundits believe that whoever wins the Jubilee party ticket in the nominations come April, will rest easy since the region is perceived as Jubilee stronghold.